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' in ■ J-i!—j'SiLiillt" *i *J?I * LUJAN B- JBS
■■*/' Geto*. Brovvu’s Second Battle. ■
j *•
WASHINGTON, JUgUSt 20.
General Jirowk'* Repot/ oj the. Battle of thx 2 5th
ultimo, at thefail*of Nii gata.
Sir—Confined as I was, and have b*n, since
the last engagement with the enemy, I fear that
the account*! am about to give, may be less full
1 and than under other circumstances
It might have been made. 1< particularly fear,
- that the conduct of the gallant men it was my
taod fortune to lead, will not be noticed in a 4 ty,
due to their fame and the honor of our country.
You are already apprised that the army had on
(he 25 ih ult. taken a position at Chippewa. A
bout noon of that day, col. Swift, who whs pos-
V s ted at Lewlstown, advised me by express, that
the enemy appeared in considerable force in
Qoeenst*>Vrn, and on its heurth*; that four of the
enemy's fleet had arrived coring the preceding
night, and were thefln lying near Fon-Niagara,
and that a number Os boats were in view, mov
ing up the streight. Within a few minutes af
ter this Intelligence had been received, I was fur
ther informed by capt. Denmon, of the Quarter-
Master's Department, that the enemy were ian
ding at Lew is* own. and that our baggage dtid
Stores at SphoUser, and on thrir way thither,
were in danger of immediate capture- It is pro
per here to mention, that having received advi
ces as late as the 20th from Gen. Gaines that
• our fleet was then in port, and the Commodore
sick, we ceased to look for co-operation from that
.determined to disencumber ourselves
of baggage and m rch directly for Burlington
Heights. To mask thi$ f intention, and to draw
from Schohserla small supply of provisions, I
fell back upon Chippewa. this arrangement,
Under the increased force of the enemy, left much
at hazard on our own side of the Niagara, and
as it appeared by the before-stated information,
that the enemy was aboat to avail himself of it,
1 conceived that the most effectual method of re
calling him from this object, was io put myself
in motion towards.Queenst6wn. Gen. Scott, with
the Ist brigade, Towson's artillery, and all the
dragoons and mounted men, were accordingly
put m march on the road leading thither, wi.h
orders to report if the enemy appeared, and to
call for assistance, if that was necessary. On
the General's arrival at the Falls, he learned that
the enemy was in force directly in his front—a
harrow piece of woods alone intercepting his
View of them. Waiting only to give this infor
mation, he advanced upon them. By the time
Assistant adjutant General (Jones) had deliver
ed his message, the action began, and before the
remaining part of the division had crossed the
Chippewa, it had became close and general be
tween the advanced corps. Though' geh. Ripley
with the 2d brigade, major Hindman with the
corps of artillery, and gen. Porter at the head of
his command, had respectively pressed forward
with ardor, St was not less than an hour before
they were brought to sustain. Gen. Scott, during
which time his command most skilfully and gal
land) maintained the conflict. Upon my arrival
1 found tfiit the gen. had passed the wood and
engaged the enemy on the Queenstown road and
.on the ground to tue left of it, with the 9tb, llth
and 29d Regis, and Towson’s artillery. The
25th had been thrown to the right to be govern
cd by circumstances. Apprehending that these
corps were much exhausted, and knowing that
they had guttered severely, I determined to in
terpose a new line with the advancing troops,
and thus disengage Gen. Scott and hold his
brigade in reserve. Orders were accordingly
given to Gen. Ripley. The enemy's artillery at
this moment occupied a hill which- gave him
great advantages, and was ihe key of the whole
position. It was supported by aline of infan.
try. To secure the victory, it was necessary
to carry this artillery and seize the height.—
This duty was assigned to Col. Miller, while
to favor its execution, the Ist Uegt. under the
Command of Col. Nicholas, was directed to'me
nace and amuse the infantry. To my great mor
tification this Regt. after a discharge .or two,
gave way and retreated some distance before it.
could be rallied, though it is believed the otti
cers of the Regt. exerted themselves to shorten
this distance. In the mean tipie, col;- Miller,
without regard to this occurrence, advanced
steadily and gallantly to his object ands carried
the height and the cannon. Gen. Ripley brot’
Up the 23d (which had also faultered) to his
support and the enemy disappeared from before
them. The first regt. Was now brought into
line on the left of the 2lst, and the detachments
of the 1 /til and 19Ui, Gen. Porter occupying,
with his command, the extreme left. About
the time col. Miller carried the enemy's cannon.
The 25th regt. under Major Jessup, was enga
ged in a more obstinate conflict with all that re
mained to dispute with us on the field of battle.
The Major, as has been already stated, had been
ordered by Gen. Scott, at the commencement of
the action, to take ground to his right. He bad
, succeeded in turning the enemy’s left flank—had
captured (by a detachment under capt Ketchum)
Gen. Riall and sundry othOr.ofiiccrs, and shewed
himself again to his own army, in a blaze of
fire, which defeated or destroyed a very superior
force of the enemy. He was ordered to form on
> • the right of the 3d regt The cnentf rallying
bis forces, and as is believed, hayipg received
reinforcements, now attempted to drive us from
.our position, and regain his artillery. Our line
was unshaken, and the enemy repulsed. Two
o her attempts having the same object, had the
pame issue. Gen. Scott was again engaged in
repelling the former of these; and the last I saw
Os him on the field of battle, Jhfe vfts near the
head Os hts column, and giving to its march a di
lection that would have placed him on the ene
my’s ight It was with great pleasure I saw the
g iod order and intrepidity of Gen. Porter’s Vol.
unteers from the moment of their arrival, but da
ting the last charge of the enemy, those quail,,
ties-were conspicuous. Stimulated by the exam
ples se t them by their gellant leader Major Wood
■v of the Pennsylvania corps, by cel. Dobbin of N.
York, and by their oflicers'generally, they pre
cipitated themselves upon the enemy’s line, and
made all the prisoners which were taken at this
•point of the action.
Having been {br sometime wounded, and bfe
ing a good deal exhausted by loss of blood, it
became my wish to devolve the command on
Gen. Scott, and retire from the field ; but on en
\ the misfortune to learn, that he was
disabled by wound*< I therefore kept my post,
W"
■ ■ ’* T, ■ v-;, -5 _ 1
and had the satisfaction t j sec the enemy ’y list
effort repulsed. I now consigned the command
to.gen |{ip!ey.
While retiring from the field, 1 saw and felt
that the victory was complete on ear part, if
proper measures were promptly adopted to secure
it. THfc exhaustion of the men, were however
such as rriude'some refreshments necessary.—
They particularly required water. I was .mysdf
extremity sensible of the want of this necessary
article. 1 therefore believed it proper that Gen.
Ripley and the troops should return to camp, af
ter bringing off die dead and wounded and the
artillery; and in this I saw no difficulty, as the
on‘■my had entirely ceased to act. Within an
hoiir after my arrival in camp I was infomted
Gen Ripley had returned without annoyance.
and in good order. I now sent for him and af
ter giving him my reasons for the measure i was
about to adopt, ordered him to put the troopsin
to the best possible condition ; to give them ' she
necessary refreshment; to take with him the pic
quets and camp guards, and every other descrip
tion of force ; to put himself on the field of bat
tle as the day dawned, and there to meet and
beat the enemy if he again appeared. To this
order he made no objection, and I relied upon its
execution. It was not executed. I feel most
inadequate are my powers in spea
king of the iroops, to do justice either to their
merits or to my own sense of them. Under a
bler direction, they might have done more and
better. ■ t s#£ 1
From the preceding detail, you have now evi
dence of the distinguished gallantry of gens.
Scott and Porter, of col. Miller and maj. Jessup.
Os the Ist brigade, the Chief, with his aid-de
camp Worth, his major of brigade Smith, and
every commander of batt. were wounded.
Ihe 2d brigade suffered less; but as a brigade,
their conduct entitled them to the applause of
their country. After the enemy's strong position
had been carried by the 2 1st, and the detachments
of the 17th and 19th, the Ist and 23d assumed a
a new character- They could not again be sha
ken or dismayed. Maj M’Farland of the latter
fell nobly at the head of his battalion. v ‘ ■
Under the command of Gen. Porter, the mill,
tia Volunteers of Pennsylvania and New-York
stqod undismayed amidst the hottest file, and re
pulsed the veterans opposed to them. TherCana
dian Volunteers, commanded by col. Wilson, are
reported by gen Porter as having merited and
received his approbation. ' f *
The corps of artillery, commanded by major
Hindmam behaved with its usual gallantry.
Capt. Towson's company, attached to, the first
brigade, was the first and the last engaged, and
during the whole conflict maintained that high
character which they had previously won by their
skiil and their valor. Capts. Diddle and Ritchie
were both wounded early in the, action, but relu
sed to quit the field. The latter declared that he
never would leave his piece,; and, true to his en
gagement, fell by its side, covered with wounds.
Ihe staff of the army had its peculiarlmgrit &
distinction. Col. Gardner, Adjutant General,
though ill, was on horseback and did all ,n his
power; his assitant maj. Jones, was very active
and useful. My gallant aid-du-camps, Auitin &
Spencer, had many and critical duties to perform,
m the discharge of which the latter fell j I shall
ever think of this young man with pride aid re
gret; regret, that his career has been so short ;
pride that U has been so noble and distinguished.
The Engineers, Majors Mcßee and Wood, were
greatly distinguished on this day, and their high
military talents exerted with great effect—they
were much under my eye and near my person, &
to their assistance a great deal is fairly to be as
cribed I most earnestly lecommend them, as
worrhy of the highest trust and confidence The
staff of Gens. Ripley and Porter discovered great
zeal and attention to duty. Lt. E. B. Randolph
of the 20th regt. is entitled to notice, his courage
was conspicuous.
I enclose a return of our loss; those noted as
missing, may generally be numbered with the
dead The enemy had but little opportunity »of
making prisoners. *
I have the bonoMo be, &c, &c.
„ _ , Jacob brown.
lion. John .Jumstono,
Secretary at War.
Report of the killed, -wounded and missingof the
Left Division of the Army commanded by Maj.
General Rro-um, in the action of the afternoon
and night of the 25th July, 1814, at the Rails
of JVtagura.
Adjutant General's Office, Fort Erie,
30 th July, 1814.
General Staff— wounded, I Maj. General, 1
Aid deCamp.
Ught Dragoons —killed, 1 corporal—wound
ed 2 privates.
Artillery— killed, 1 captain, 1 Corporal, 8
privates—wounded, 1 captain, 2 subalterns, 1
sergeant, 2 corporals. 1 musician, 28 privates
—missing, 1 private.
Firstar Brig. Gen. Scott's Brigade.
Brigade Staff—wounded, I brigadier g§no
ral, 1 aid de camp, 1 brigade major.
9th Infantry—killed, 1 captain, 2 subalterns,
1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 11 privates—wounded,
I major, 1 quarter- master, 1 paymaster, 1 cap
tain, 5 subalters, 7 sergeants, 5 corporate, 69
privates—missing, 1 subaltern, 1 sergeant ma
jor, 2 sergeants, 11 privates.
II th Infantry—killed, 1 captain, 2 sergeants
4 corporals, 21 privates—wounded, Imnior, 1
captain, 5 subalterns, <1 sergeant major, 1 chief
musician, 7 sergeants, 3 corporals, i musician
82 JLT^ mis9i "e’ 1 subaltern, 2 privates.
Infantry—killed, 2 sergeants, j corpo
ral, 33 privates—wounded, I colonel, 2 capts
4 subalterns, 9 sergeants, 11 corporals, I mu
sician, 62 privates—missing, 3 subalterns. 2
sergeants, 12 privates. -
9fi 2 n s !w f “ try " l '? 1 captain, 1 subaltern’
26 privates—wounded, I major, 1 adjutant. 1
quartermaster, 1 subaltern, 6 sergeants. 6 cor
purals, 50 privates—missing, 1 sergeant. 2
corporals, 19 privates. 6 ’ 2
Second or Brig. Gen. Ripley's Brigade. .
0 killed, 11 privates—wounded,
1 private! 18 Plates—missing. 1 corporal
21st Infantry-killed, 1 subaltern, 2sergt’s
I Xl , Plates—wounded, 1 captfin,
19 prfJST ' f ' rge “ t ' 63 -Li*
r I " fa " tr )--ikilled,-! major, 2 servants,
1 ' 6 sulXra.
1 Krgc.nt, l corporal, 43 privates—missing!
. ' • . . . ■!,' ft '' W
3 sergeants, 2 corporafs, 22 privates.
Brigadier General Porter's Command.
Brigade-Staff—l brigade major missing.
Canadian Volunteer*—killed* 1 private—
wounded 2 privates—missing 8 privates.
Pennsylvonia Volunteers—killed, I adjutant
1 sergeant, 9 privates—wounded, I major, 1
quartermaster, 1 subaltern, 21 privates—mis
sing, 1 captain, y. ;; »
New-York Vblunteers—killed, 1 captain, 1
corporal, 2 privates—wounded, 1 Lieut. Col*
1 subaltern, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, 9 privates
—missing, I subaltern.
Grand Total.
Killed, 1 major, 1 adjutant, 5 captains, 4
subalterns, 10 sergeants, 10 corporals, 148
, privates. Total, 171. '
Wounded, I major general, 1 brig, general,
2 aids de camp, 1 brigade major, 1 colonel, 1
lieut. colonel, 1 adjutant, 3 quarter
masters, 1 paymaster, 7 captains, 23 Subal
terns, 1 sergeant major, I chief musician, 34
sergeants, 29 corporals, 3 musicians, 449 pri
, vates. Total, 572. • Jf 7
Missing, 1 brigade major, leap tain, 6 sub
\ alterns, 1 sergeant major, 8 sergeants, 5 cor
■ pohds, 95 privates. Total, 117.
i C. K. GARDNER, Adj, Gen.
4 Officers’Billed.
Major MTarland, 23d infantry,
Capt. Ritchie, corps of artillery, „ • * ,
Capt. Hull, 9th infantry,
I Capt. Kinney. 25th do. t > ■ -
Capt. Goodrich, 11th do-
IstLt. Bigelow, 2lstdo.
Ist Lt. Turner, 9th do.
, , 2d Lt. Burghkrdt, 9th Jo.
[ Ensign Hunter, 25th do.
Capt. Hooper, N. Y. Vol.
Adjntant Poe, Penn. Vol.
f ... Officers 1 Wounded! >
Major General Drown,, severely weiunded
through the thigh and in the side.
/Capt . Spencer, aid to the Maj. Gen. through
the body, supposed to be mortal'.
./ Artillery—Capt. Biddle, slightly, shot wounds
in the neck and ai, m.
2d Lt Campbell, badly through the leg.
3d Lt. Schmuck, severely.
First Brigade .
Brig. Gen, Scott, severely, shoulder fractu
red and wound in the side.
Lt. J. D. Smith, 6th infantry, brigade maj.
badly through the leg. *
Lt. Worth, 23d infantry, aid de camp, se
verely, grape shot in the thigh.
9th Infantry. Maj. Leavenworth, slightly
contusion in the side.
Capt. W. L- Foster, slightly in the shoul
der.
Lt. and Paymaster Fowle,' slightlv shot in
the foot. *
. Lt. and Qr. Master Browning* slightly shot
in the face. y
2d Lieutenant Fisher, severely, shot in the
head and wrist.
3d Lieut. Cushman, slightly, in the. thigh
and shoulder.
Ensign G. Jacobs; severely; shot wound in
the knee. -
• Ensign J. p. Jacobs, slightly, in the shoulder*
Ensign Blake, slightly, in the knee
11th Infantry. Maj. M'Neil, Severely, can
mster shot in the thigh.
Capt, Briss, badly, shot in the leg.
Ist- Lt. Hail, slightly, shot in the thigh
ed Lieutenant Cooper, slightly, contusion in
the breast.
,\3d Lt. Stephenson, slightly, in the thigh.
Ensign Bedford, slightly, hurt in the abdo
mea by a splinter.
Thompson, (26th, doing duty in the
lUh) severely, shot wound in the side
o2d infantry. Col, Brady, sevetely, shot
wound m the side and hip.
Capt. Pentland, severely wounded and a
prisoner. '
Capt. Foulk, severely shot wound In the side.
in j ent ‘ severely, shot wound
Ist. Lieut. Furguson, severely, shot in the
hand froma cannister.
2d Lieut. Armstrong, dangerously, shot
wound qi the shoulder.
SVr sean»5 ean » * u SWy, shot in the foot. . ■
25tn Infantry. Major Jessup* severely, shot
wounds m the hand and shoulder.
‘Lt. and Adj.Shaylor, severely, shot wounds
in the arm and side.
Lt. end Qr, Master M'Glassi, badly, shot
wounds m the shoulder.
3dLt. Gkfford, severely, shot wounds in the
mp.
Second Brigade.
Ist Infantry. Ist Lieut. Vasques, slightly,
• shot in the thigh, and bayonet in thtfleg,
Ist. Lt. Bissel, slightly, in the leg, .
. 2 \f* Lifantry. Captain Burbank, severely,
shouJ4er fractured.
I«. Lt. CUley, severely, thigh fractured.
■ 2 1 L k’ Flßk ( ° f the I9UI atlach ’ d ) slightly,
in vlic breast.
Efisign Jones, slightly, flesh wound in the
wrist.
- Camp (2d Bifle Regt. serving with
theßegt. attach’d) flesh wound in the ankle.
flnsign Thbmas, slightly, contusion in the
bask.
23d Infantry. Capt. Odell, severely, shot
wound in the arm. ’
Ist Lt H- Whiting, severely , in the neck.
2dLt. Ingersoll, slightly in the foot.
2d Lt. Tappan, slightly, in the head.
3d Lt. Abeal, slightly, in the leg,
3d Lt Deiterelch, slightly, in the arm.
SdLt Lamb, severely, in the leg.
Brigadier General Dorter's Command.
New. York Volunteers. Lieut. Col. Dobbin
slightly, shot in the breast.
Lt O Fling, slightly, spent common shot
m the shoulder,
Pennsylvania Volunteers. Maj. Wood, se
verely, musket shots in the arm and foot, and
bruised by his horse being shot & foiling on him.
Quarter Master Maclay, severely, musket
shots in the head and twice thro’ the’ leg.
Lieut. Dick, severely, shot in the hand.
Brig Gen. Porter was slightly wounded, but
declined beingreported.
Officers JVRssingt
Lt Perry, 9th infantry, a prisoner,
od Lt. Webster, Hth infantry, severely shot
in the head, and taken prisoner.
Lieut*. Sturgis, Keps, and Davidson, 22d
infantry, supposed to be killed.
Volunteers. Brigade Major Stanton of New
n 0 ..
York, taken prisoner.
* Boberts of ftaMjd, Mla>
' ' IU, ‘ tof Ne » ;Vork - ■*»** „ ,
1 *-■ WSKCT°KBMERn’som Cf
r > Bemd-quarters, Left nsl- . X
Fort Erie, Aug.
Return of the prisoners of the enemy t l
m the action of the 25th ult. fought Si ***
agara Falls between the Left Divf SO n O fS *
i States army commanded by Major Gen n 1
and the English forces under the col*?
Lieutenant General Drummond. <
' „ Prisoners. 1 Major General,' I Aid d P
I 1 1 captain and two subalterns, of the in* f *
1 captain 89th regt. I captain ProvincialS 81
, gopns, 2 captains and two subalterns of' in
porated militia, 1 captain of Miiitia 1 r Ct)N
of Royal engineers, 3 subalterns of IloVal W
I subaltern Glengaty Corps, Quarter ’
► of the Bth or Regiment,-Quarter mI?
of the 4lst Regiment, and ISO rank and fik r
BicAPirucaxioir.
X Major General, •
i * Aid to Lieut. General Drumn^
6 Captains, , v *
11 Subalterns,
150 Rank and File,
Aggregate 169. - V
Major General Riall, severely wounds
the arm. - AZ. ORNE, AsssiX ®
Major General Baoww. Ins I ,ect °r Gen.
V . -v —•' *• ■ >,
British Official Account of the Bat.
tie of Bridgewater. r
Head-quarters, Falls of Niagara, I
26 h July, 1814. I
District Generul Order. A
Lieutenant General Drummond offers hin i.A
cerest and warmest thanks to the troops A
militia engaged yesterday, for their ezunphA
steadiness, gallantry and discipline inrepu j
all the efforts of a numerous and determinA
enemy to carry the position of Lundy’s LsnA
near the Falls of Niagara ; their exertions h»A
bfeeu crowned with complete success, by tIA
defeat of the enemy and his retreat to theposA
tion of Chippewa, with the loss of two of hA
guns and an immense number of killed & woj
ded, and several hundred prisoners. WhenaH
have behaved nobly, it is unnecessary to bo A
up particular instances of merit in corps or iiA
dividuals. The Lieut. Gen. cannot hovevJ
refrain from expressing in the strongest niannA
his admiration of the gallantry and steadineA
of the 89th Regiment, under Lt. Col. MorrisA
and Major Clifford, who ably and gallantly sum
plied the lieutenant colonel’s place after hew A
wounded ; 41st Light company under captaA
Glew, and a detachment of the Bth or KmgA
regiment, under capt. Campbell; and RoyalA
. acting with them , and also a party of incorpoA
rated militia, by whom the brunt of the actioiH
was for a considerable time sustained, & wlwA
loss li as been very severe. To the advance uA
der lieutenant "colonel Pearson, consisting c>A
the Glengary Light Infantry, under lieutenaA
colonel Baltersby j a small party of the
under lieutenar t colonel Drummond: the Irl
corporated Militia under lieutenant colonel K A
binson, and detachments from the Ist, 2d,4‘A
and sth Lincoln militia, and 2d York, uncM
lieutenant colonel Pary, 103 d, the Lieuten A
General offers his warmest thanks. They iA
also due to the troops which arrived under coB;
Scott, during the action, viz : the Ist or R A
al Scots under lieutenant colortel Gordon,
or King’s, under Major Evans; 103 d regt. i A
dev colonel Scott, flank company 104th, will
the Norfolk, Oxford, Kent and Essex Range A
and Middlesex, under lieut. col. Hamilton- J
The admirable-steadiness and good condi A
of the JJ9 th Light Dragoons under Major Lis A
and of the detachment of Royal Artillery undA
captain Maclaclilan, are entitled to particuA ;
praise ; the latter officer having
wounded the command of the artillery devolve®
to captain Rlackonochie, with whose
and exertions Lieutenant General Druimn»A
was highly pleased. Sergeant Austin, who A
reeled the firing of the Congreve Rockets, <A
serves y ry great credit. To the officers ottH
general and of his personal Staff, to capt.H.S
aid decamp to Maj. Gen. Riall ,• Lieut. (*»■
ral Drummond feels himself greatly
for the assistance they afforded him. j
He has to lament being deprived (by a
early in the action) of the services of Mrj- ‘
Riall, who was most unfortunately made pH,
oner while returning from the field, by apt®,
of the enemy’s cavalry, who had a
possession of the Road. Lieutenant
Drummond lias also to regret the wounds ,
have deprived the corps of the services of
tenant colonel Morrison,, 89th
lieutenant colone l Robertson of tlic incorpA
ed militia. In the fall of Lt. Moorsom, j
104th regiment, serving as Deputy j
Adjutant General, the service has lostaga' l ® „
intelligent and meritorious young office-
The Lieutenant General and Presided j
great pleasure in dismissing to their homo S j
whole of the Sedentary Militia who have ■
handsomely come forward on the occasion,
(identthaton any future emergency, theif >*
alty will be again equally• conspicuous-*
will perform a grateful duty in
to his Majesty’s Government, the zeah j (
ry and alacrity with whicii tiie militia DM
co-operated with His Majesty’s Troops * ,
(Signed) J. HARVEJA y .
Lt. Col. and Dep. Ady GJ c
Total killed, wounded and prisoners,
ding officers. * rl l«
Killed “1,
Wounded ~ I
Missing "A
Prisoners ’ A W
General Total,
in consquence of the great tire ir lje A
enemy of Buck Shot, many of the woun, *■
proved slight. _. ■
(Signed) EDWARD BAYNE** V
Adjutent GcnP*
Washington City, *V
Extracts of letters from Brigadier Ocn
, to the Secretary of ff - r - " a ' 1 '